Obesity has presented high prevalence in developed and developing countries and is associated with increase morbidity and mortality, especially for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Acute-phase proteins as C-reactive protein (CRP) have been associated with cardiovascular diseases. This protein is synthesized at liver basis and regulated by interleukin-6 (IL-6), which approximately 30.0% is produced in adiposity tissue. Recent studies have shown the relation between body fat, including abdominal fat, and elevated serum levels of CRP. This study verifies relation between anthropometric variables and body composition assessments with CRP serum levels in a rural population at Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais. A cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals aged 18 or more, both sexes and at least two years of residency in the place of study. Pregnant women, diabetic and CRP over 10mg/l individuals were excluded. Data collection included demographic, lifestyle, hemodynamics, anthropometric, body composition and biochemical variables. Data was processed in Statistical Software for Professionals (STATA) 9.0. From the 536 subjects, 50.37% were men. Age varied from 18 to 94, age mean was 43.34. Most of the sample was non-white, lived with partner, had low educational level and no smoke or alcoholic habits. Overweight and obesity was present in 17.60 and 5.24%, respectively. Mean values of body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) as well as overweight, obesity and elevated body fat percentage frequency were significantly higher among women than men. Bivariate analysis found significant correlations between CRP logarithm (lnCRP) and the following variables: BMI, waist circumference, WHR, body fat percentage, age, education, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), triglycerides, fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment - insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). After adjusting the variables during multiple linear regression model, only BMI, age, sex, fasting insulin and HDL-c remained significantly associated with lnCRP. BMI was found as an independent predictor to elevated CRP serum levels, corroborating the theory which fat tissue might produce chronic subclinical inflammation.